Inventions

Scientists seeking to capture and control on Earth fusion energy, the process that powers the sun and stars, face the risk of disruptions — sudden events that can halt fusion reactions and damage facilities called tokamaks that house them. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), and the University of Washington have developed a novel prototype for rapidly controlling disruptions before they can take full effect.

Scientists seeking to capture and control on Earth fusion energy, the process that powers the sun and stars, face the risk of disruptions — sudden events that can halt fusion reactions and damage facilities called tokamaks that house them. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), and the University of Washington have developed a novel prototype for rapidly controlling disruptions before they can take full effect.

A day-long Technology Showcase spotlighting the unique research, technical expertise, and inventions that the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory offers to collaborators and funders attracted a wide range of potential partners.

The Dec. 18 event highlighted several PPPL inventions and cutting-edge technologies. These included low-temperature plasma research and applications such as plasma nanosynthesis, the production of nanoparticles with plasma, as well as PPPL’s engineering capabilities in areas such as machine learning and computer simulations.